Container and closure

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a molded plastic open-end container and a cover which is affixed to the container so as to effect a sealed-tight closure on the container. The cover has an annular inverted U-shaped channel into which the upper edge of the container is received, with appropriate interlocking means being provided on the container and cover to secure the cover to the container. The cover has an annular outer wall which extends a pre-determined length below the upper edge of the container, and the latter has an annular bumper rib and an annular drip rib about its side wall. These ribs are spaced from the lower edge of the cover&#39;&#39;s annular outer wall and are proportioned to cooperate with one another to retain the container in spaced relationship to another container, to protect against the cover being inadvertently dislodged by another container engaging beneath the lower edge of the cover&#39;&#39;s annular outer wall and forcing the cover to pop off of the container.

United States Patent [191 Churan 51 Apr. 16, 1974 CONTAINER AND CLOSURE[75] Inventor: Roy G. Churan, Oak Lawn, 111.

[73] Assignee: Vulcan Plastics Inc., Addison, 111.

[22] Filed: Mar. 17, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 235,753

Primary Examiner-George E. Lowrance Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Dominik,Knechtel, Godula & Demeur [5 7] ABSTRACT This invention relates to amolded plastic open-end container and a cover which is affixed to thecontainer so as to effect a sealed-tight closure on the container. Thecover has an annular inverted U-shaped channel into which the upper edgeof the container is received, with appropriate interlocking means beingprovided on the container and cover to secure the cover to thecontainer. The cover has an annular outer wall which extends apre-determined length below the upper edge of the container, and thelatter has an annular bumper rib and an annular drip rib about its sidewall. These ribs are spaced from the lower edge of the covers annularouter wall and are proportioned to cooperate with one another to retainthe container in spaced relationship to another container, to protectagainst the cover being inadvertently dislodged by another containerengaging beneath the lower edge of the covers annular outer wall andforcing the cover to pop off of the containen 2 Claims, 6 DrawingFigures CONTAINER AND CLOSURE This invention relates, in general, to animproved container and closure construction and, in particular, to animproved molded plastic open end container and cover therefor.

The molded plastic open end container of the present invention has aplastic cover of the so-called snap-on type, that is, one which isaffixed to the plastic container in a fashion such as to effect asealed-tight closure'thereon, without the need of additional securementmeans such as, for example, a metal ring seal. Plastic closures of thistype usually are provided with an annular inverted U-shaped channelabout its top wall structure into which the upper edge of the open endcontainer is received. An annular bead or curl is provided about theperiphery of the upper edge of the container, and one wall of theU-shaped channel is provided with interlocking means which interlockwith this bead or curl to affix the closure to the container. The

U-shaped channel, furthermore, generally is relatively deep so that theupper edge is deeply seated therein, to effect a sealed-tightengagement. In fact, in many cases, the upper edge of the container, thebead or curl, the U-shaped channel and the interlocking means are soproportioned that one wall of the U-shaped channel must be cut or slitabout its periphery, in order to break the sealed-tight engagementbetween the container and the closure, to remove the latter.Alternatively, some constructions are adapted to receive a tool such asa screwdriver or other special instrument beneath and between thecontainer and the closure to effect removal.

While ideally the closures are fixedly secured to the containers so thatthe closures, in fact, must be forcibly removed generally in the mannerdescribed above, the fact is that many closures or covers areinadvertently dislodged during shipping, thus the contents of thecontainers are spilled. This inadvertent removal normally is caused byor results from the containers shifting with respect to one another in afashion such that the cover or a portion of one container engagesbeneath the lower edge of the cover on another container, with theresult that the container is supported in a tilted position. It thecontainer then should be caused to bounce, the resulting upward force onthe cover many times causes the cover to pop off of the container.

While this problem can be eliminated in various different fashions, forexample, by using a ring seal in combination with the closure, the useof such means generally defeats the advantages of these 4 so-calledsnap-on type closures. Accordingly, the problem exists and improvedmeans are being sought to eliminate this objectionable feature, whileretaining the advantages of the snap-on type closures.

The problem is somewhat compounded by the fact that the molded plasticcontainers are generally resilient and any flexure of the side walls ofthe container has a tendency to weaken the sealed-tight engagementbetween the closure and the container. Again, additional rigidity anddimensional stability can be provided by simply adding a number ofsupporting ribs or flanges to the container's side walls. However, inthis case also, simply adding these support ribs is not economicallyfeasible since obviously additional plastic material is required toprovide them, and the cost of doing so results in a container which iseconomically uncompetitive. Furthermore, it is generally recognized thatthe users of the containers require, or at least desire, the maximumspace available on the side walls for printed material, for decorativeand/or advertising purposes. The addition of a number of spaced apartsupporting ribs on the side wall of the containers obviously reduces theamount of available space. Whenever support ribs have been provided,these support ribs normally have been formed to extend outwardlysubstantially perpendicular to the side wall of the container. With thistype of construction, particularly when one of the support ribs alsofunctions as a drip guard, the support ribs usually are great dustcollectors and the dust and/or the drips of the product are verydifficult to clean off of them. This feature also is objectionable,particularly when the container contains a food product.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved molded plastic open-end container and cover therefor.

More particularly still, it is an object to provide an improved moldedplastic open-end container and cover combination constructed in afashion such as-to prevent the cover from being inadvertently dislodgedduring shipping or storage.

Still another object is to provide an improved molded plastic open-endcontainer and cover therefor of the above-described type which can bemolded without the need of additional material or an increase in themolding cycle thereof.

Still another object is to provide an improved molded plastic open-endcontainer and cover therefor having improved rigidity and dimensionalstability, yet with maximum space available on the side wall for printedmaterial, for decorative and/or-advertising purposes.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

The above objectives are accomplished with a molded plastic open-endcontainer and a cover which is affixed to the container so as to effecta sealed-tight closure on the container. The cover has an annularinverted U-shaped channel into which the upper edge of the container isreceived, with appropriate interlocking means being providedon thecontainer and cover tosecure the cover to the container. The cover hasan annular outer wall which extends a pre-determined length below theupper edge of the container, and the latter has an annular bumper riband an annular drip rib about its side wall. These ribs are spaced fromthe lower edge of the covers annular outer wall and are proportioned tocooperate with oneanother to retain the container in spaced relationshipto another container, to protect against the cover being inadvertentlydislodged by another container engaging beneath the lower edge of thecovers annular outer wall and forcing the cover to pop off of thecontainer. Furthermore, these ribs function to add rigidity anddimensional stability to the container, and are formed such that theycan be easily wiped clean. In addition, these ribs are formed andpositioned to provide the maximum possible space on the side wall of thecontainer, and such that the container can be molded without the need ofadditional material or an increase in the molding cycle thereof.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessingthe features, properties, and the relation of elements which will beexemplified in the article hereinafter described, and the scope of theinvention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side plan view of a molded plastic open end container andcover constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the container illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the cover on the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view, generally illustrating the manner inwhich the cover is affixed to the container to provide a sealed tightclosure for the container;

FIG. 5 is a partial side plan view, partially sectionalized, of a pairof the containers generally illustrating the manner in which thecontainers can be stacked in a nested relationship; and

FIG. 6 is a side plan view of several of the containers of FIG. I,generally illustrating the manner in which the drip rib and the bumperrib on the container cooperate to prevent the cover on a container frombeing inadvertently dislodged therefrom.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. 1 there is shown a molded plasticopen end container 10 having a cover 11 secured thereto, to provide asealed-tight closure for the container 10. The container 10 has a bottomwall 12 and a side wall 13 which extends upwardly therefrom and isslightly tapered so as to be of larger diameter at its upper open end. Ahead like curl 14 is formed about the upper edge of the side wall 13,which bead like curl 14 is adapted to interlock with an interlockingflange 27 on the outer wall 24 of the cover 11, as explained more fullybelow.

An annular drip rib 15 extends completely about the periphery of theside wall 13 of the container 10, in a predetermined spaced positionfrom the bead like curl 14 on the upper edge of the side wall. This driprib 15, as can be best seen in FIG. 4, extends outwardly and angularlydownwardly from the side wall 13 so as to present a tapered top surface.The drip rib 15 could be a solid rib which is generally triangularshaped in crosssection, however, for reasons set forth more specificallybelow, the drip rib 15 preferably and advantageously is simply aoutwardly extending, angularly dis posed narrow flange.

Spaced below the drip rib I5 is a bumper rib 16 which, as can be bestseen in FIGS. 2 and 4, is formed ofa top wall 17 which extends outwardlyand angularly downwardly from the side wall 13 and an end wall 18 whichis integrally affixed to the terminal peripheral edge of the top wall 17and extends substantially vertically downwardly and outwardly so as tobe of a larger diameter at its lower terminal edge. An open cavity isformed between the bumper rib 16 and the side wall 13, and within thisopen cavity there is provided a number of radially spaced spacer ribs21. These spacer ribs 21 provide additional rigidity to the bumper rib16 and, furthermore, prevent the upper edge of another container fromseating within the open cavity between the bumper rib l6 and the sidewall 13, when the containers are nested within one another. A wire bailis affixed to the container 10, by a pair of bail handle attachments 19which are integrally formed with the bumper rib 16, in diametricallyopposed relationship.

The cover 11, as can be best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, has a top wallstructure 23 about which is provided an inverted U-shaped channel whichis adapted to receive therein the upper edge of the side wall 13 of theopen end container 10. This inverted U-shaped channel is formed of anouter wall 24 and a concentric inner wall 25 having a top section 26coupling them together. An interlocking flange 27 is formed on theinterior surface of the outer wall 24 which interlocking flange 27, asindicated above, is adapted to interlock with the bead like curl 14about the upper edge of the side wall 13, to affix the cover 11 to thecontainer 10. An extension 28 is provided on the inner wall 25, whichextension 28 extends beneath the top wall structure 23 of the cover 11,as can be best seen in FIG. 4. This extension 28 extends to a greaterdepth within the container 10, to provide a better locking engagementbetween the cover 11 and the container 10. An annular seating wall 29 isspaced inwardly from the inner wall 25 and is concentric with thelatter. This seating wall 29 in conjunction with the top wall surface 23of the cover 11 provides a seating cavity of substantial depth forreceiving the lower edge of a container 10, for nesting the containersone atop another. The interior diameter of the seating wall 29substantially corresponds to the diameter of the lower edge of thecontainer 10, so that the lower edge of the container 10 can be firmlyseated therein and prevent it from laterally shifting during nesting. Anumber of support ribs 31 are provided in radially spaced relationshipbetween the inner-wall 2S and the seating wall 29, to provide additionalrigidity to the cover 11 and particularly to the seating wall 29.

A gasket 30 preferably and advantageously is secured within the invertedU-shaped channel about the periphery of the cover 11, and the cover 11and the container 10 are proportioned so that the gasket 30 iscompressed and provides a sealed-tight engagement between the cover andthe container when the interlocking flange'27 and the bead like curl 14are lockingly engaged with one another. Also, while the topwallstructure 23 of the cover 11 can be of a solid construction, withthe cover 11 being adapted for removal, a pour spout opening 32 can beprovided therein for receiving pour spouts of conventional construction.In the latter case, the cover 11 is normally not removed, the productbeing dispensed through the pour spout secured within the pour spoutopening 32.

As indicated above, during shipping and/or storage of the containers 10,many times the containers are caused to shift with respect to oneanother in a fashion such that the cover or a portion of one containerengages beneath the lower edge of the outer wall 24 of the cover onanother container, with the ,result that the container is supported in atilted position. If the container then is caused to bounce as duringtransit, the resulting upward force on the cover many times causes thecover to pop off of the container. This problem is substantially if notcompletely eliminated with the container and cover construction of thepresent invention, by appropriately forming the outer wall 24 of thecover 11 and the drip rib l5 and the bumper rib 16 on the side wall 13of the container 10. More specifically, the length of the outer wall 24of the cover 1 l and the position of the drip rib 15 on the side wall 13of the container are such that the drip rib is spaced immediately belowthe lower edge of the outer wall 24 and extends horizontally outwardlyso that its outermost diameter is the same as or substantiallycorresponds to the outer diameter of the outer wall 24. Being of thesame diameter and being spaced just below the lower edge of the outerwall 24, the drip rib 15 substantially prevents another object,particularly the cover on another container from engaging beneath thelower edge of the outer wall 24, as can be best seen in FIG. 6 whereinone, container 10 is illustrated in a tilted position with'respect toanother one of the containers [0. Therefore, by preventing'a cover fromengaging beneath the lower edge of the outer wall 24 on the cover 11 ofanother container, the possibility of an upward force being exerted onthe outer wall 24 and having the cover inadvertently popped off of thecontainer is virtually eliminated.

In addition, the bumper rib 16 on the side wall 13 of the containers 10cooperate with the drip rib 15 to prevent this inadvertent removal of acover 11 from a container 10. As can be seen in the drawings, theoutermost diameter of the bumper rib 16 is. greater than the diameter ofthe outer wall 24 of the cover 11, hence these bumper ribs 16 functionto retain the containers in a spaced apart relationship .whennested'together in side-by-side abutting relationship. Under staticconditions and even while being subjected to some degree of jostlingaround during shipping, the bumper ribs 16 prevent the, cover 11 on onecontainer from engaging or interlocking with the cover on anothercontainer. Further still, the diameter of the bumper ribs 16 and thepositioning of the latter beneath the drip ribs 15 are such that thebumper rib 16 engages the side wall 13 of a container when the upperedge of the cover 11 on a container normally. would be in a position toengage beneath the lower edge of the outer wall 24 of a cover II,generally as illustrated in FIG. 6. The bumper rib 16 thus cooperateswith the drip rib 15 to prevent the cover 11 on another container fromengaging beneath the lower edge of the outer wall 24, hence thepossibility of a force being exerted on the latter to inadvertentlycause the cover 11 on the container to pop off of his eliminated.Furthermore, ifa container 10 tilted in a fashion as illustrated in FIG.6 is now bounced or caused to shift so that it resumes or attempts toresume its normally seated position, the tendency for the latter to doso is assisted by the fact that the loweredge of the bumper rib 16engages and slides down the tapered top surface of the top wall 17 ofthe bumper rib. In doing so, the container 10, of course, also isforcibly urged away from and in spaced relationship to the othercontainer thus also eliminating the tendency for one container to gethung up on another container.

It can also be seen that the construction of the drip rib l5 and thebumper rib 16 is such that both present a top surface which is tapereddownwardly, and these top surfaces can be easily and quickly wiped cleanof any drips or dust which may collect on them. The latter, as indicatedabove, is a very desirable feature, particularly when the containercontains a food product which may be contaminated by the dirt which maycollect on these ribs. Furthermore, by forming the ribs 15 and 16 in theabove-described fashion, particularly the bumper rib 16, it is foundthat these ribs add sufficient rigidity and dimensional stability to thecontainer that the thickness of the side walls of the containers can bereduced to the extent that these ribs can be added to the container 10,without the need of additional material. Accordingly, a container 10 canbe molded using the same or substantially the same amount of materialwhich is normally required to mold similar types of containers. In thisrespect, the construction isalso such that the molding cycle time formolding a container 10 also is the same or substantially the same as themolding cycle for presently available similar types of containers.Further still, by constructing the bumper rib 16 in the describedfashion and spacing the latter from the drip rib 15, it can be seen thatvery little of the space available on the side walls is interrupted bythe ribs. Therefore a substantial amount of spacei's available forprinted matter, for decorative and/or advertising purposes.

Containers 10 of the above-described construction were tested by anindependent testing organization, and the results of these testsindicate that the bumper rim 16 provides several other improvements inthe way of rigidity and dimensional stability. One such test consistedof a drop test, during which the containers 10 were filled anddroppedfrom various heights, onto their sides. The results of these side droptests indicate that the containers with the bumper rib 16 are far morerigid and will withstand a greater drop before the container collapsesor buckles and permits its cover to be displaced, in comparison to othersimilar containers, particularly those not having any supporting ribs atall.

These containers also were subjected to various load tests, to determinetheir dimensional stability. It is generally known that a container ofthis type normally functions as a column of fluid the height of thecontainer. When the container is subjected toa load placed atop of it,the load exerts a force on the side wall of the container which is thegreatest near its center. This force can be sufficient to cause thesidewall of the container to rupture or buckle. The bumper rib l6effectively divides in half the height of the column of fluid or, inother words, forms two columns of fluid, one atop the other, with thebottom of the upper column being disposed substantially at the positionof the bumper rib 16 on the container. When a load is placed atop thecontainer, the force of the upper column of fluid is substantiallydissipated and absorbed by the bumper rib 16, so that the likelihood ofthe side wall of the container being ruptured is substantially reduced.In these tests, it is found that the containers l0 meet all therequirements established by the National Motor Freight ClassificationBoard of the American Trucking Association, for using the containers intruck shipments.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those madeapparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained andcertain changes may be made in the above article. Accordingly, it isintended that all matter contained in the above description or shown inthe accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting sense.

Now that the invention has been described, what is claimed as new anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a molded plastic open end container and a covertherefor, said open end container having a bottom wall and an upwardlyextending side wall, a bead-like curl extending about the outerperiphery of said side wall at the upper edge thereof, said covercomprising a center top wall structure and a perimetrical invertedU-shaped channel provided at the periphery thereof for receiving thereinthe upper edge of said open end container, said U-shaped channel havingan inner and a concentric outer annular wall and a top sectioninterconnecting said inner and outer annular walls, and interlockingmeans on the interior of said outer annular wall adapted to lockinglyengage with said bead-like curl to removably secure said cover over theopen end of said container, said open end container having an annulardrip rib and a bumper formed on the side wall thereof, said annular driprib being spaced immediately below the lower edge of said outer annularwall of said cover and extending angularly outwardly and downwardly fromsaid containers side wall, the outermost diameter of said drip ribsubstantially corresponding to the outer diameter of said outer annularwall of said cover, said drip rib further being proportioned to addstrength and dimensional stability to said open end container torestrict the tendency of said side wall at the open end thereof tocollapse to thereby provide a more secure interlocking engagement andseal between said open end container and said cover, said bumper beingspaced below said annular drip rib and having a top wall projectingoutwardly and angularly downwardly from said side wall so as to providea downwardly sloped top surface for causing an object to slide off saidtop surface and an end wall integrally formed therewith and extendingsubstantially vertically downwardly, the outermost diameter of saidbumper being greater than the diameter of said covers annular outer wallwhereby said bumper functions to retain said containers in a spacedapart relationship when nested together in side-by-side abuttingrelationship, said bumper further being of a diameter and positionedwith respect to said drip rib to engage the side wall of another one ofsaid containers and thereby prevent the upper edge of one container fromengaging beneath the lower edge of the annular outer wall of a cover onanother one of said covers, whereby said covers are protected againstaccidental removal, said bumper further being proportioned to resist thetendency of said side wall to buckle when said container is dropped onits side and positioned to effectively reduce the column force exertedupon the side wall of said container to reduce the likelihood of theside wall buckling when the container is dropped on its bottom.

2. The combination of claim 1, further including a bail attachment for abail for carrying said container integrally formed with said bumper, aplurality of spacer ribs disposed between said containers side wall andsaid end wall of said bumper in radial spaced relationship, said bumperand said spacer ribs providing additional rigidity and dimensionalstability to minimize bail stress flexure of said containers side wallwhen said container is lifted or carried by a bail.

1. In combination, a molded plastic open end container and a covertherefor, said open end container having a bottom wall and an upwardlyextending side wall, a bead-like curl extending about the outerperiphery of said side wall at the upper edge thereof, said covercomprising a center top wall structure and a perimetrical invertedU-shaped channel provided at the periphery thereof for receiving thereinthe upper edge of said open end container, said U-shaped channel havingan inner and a concentric outer annular wall and a top sectioninterconnecting said inner and outer annular walls, and interlockingmeans on the interior of said outer annular wall adapted to lockinglyengage with said bead-like curl to removably secure said cover over theopen end of said container, said open end container having an annulardrip rib and a bumper formed on the side wall thereof, said annular driprib being spaced immediately below the lower edge of said outer annularwall of said cover and extending angularly outwardly and downwardly fromsaid container''s side wall, the outermost diameter of said drip ribsubstantially corresponding to the outer diameter of said outer annularwall of said cover, said drip rib further being proportioned to addstrength and dimensional stability to said open end container torestrict the tendency of said side wall at the open end thereof tocollapse to thereby provide a more secure interlocking engagement andseal between said open end container and said cover, said bumper beingspaced below said annular drip rib and having a top wall projectingoutwardly and angularly downwardly from said side wall so as to providea downwardly sloped top surface for causing an object to slide off saidtop surface and an end wall integrally formed therewith and extendingsubstantially vertically downwardly, the outermost diameter of saidbumper being greater than the diameter of said cover''s annular outerwall whereby said bumper functions to retain said containers in a spacedapart relationship when nested together in side-by-side abuttingrelationship, said bumper further being of a diameter and positionedwith respect to said drip rib to engage the side wall of another one ofsaid containers and thereby prevent the upper edge of one container fromengaging beneath the lower edge of the annular outer wall of a cover onanother one of said covers, whereby said covers are protected againstaccidental removal, said bumper further being proportioned to resist thetendency of said side wall to buckle when said container is dropped onits side and positioned to effectively reduce the column force exertedupon the side wall of said container to reduce the likelihood of theside wall buckling when the container is dropped on its bottom.
 2. Thecombination of claim 1, further including a bail attachment for a bailfor carrying said container integrally formed with said bumper, aplurality of spacer ribs disposed between said container''s side walland said end wall of said bumper in radial spaced relationship, saidbumper and said spacer ribs providing additional rigidity anddimensional stability to minimize bail stress flexure of saidcontainer''s side wall when said container is lifted or carried by abail.